Tap for barrels, kegs, &amp;c.



c. El. MBNTZBR. ATAP FOR BARRELS, KEGS,` dw. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12,1906.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

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CLAUDE E. MENTZER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO ADOLPH J'. ZANG AND ONE-FOURTH TO ARNOLD BLOEDT, BOTH OF DENVER, COLORADO.

'rar non BAnRELs, zines, as.

Specieaton of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filed October 12, 1906. Serial No. 338,589.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. MEN Tzmc, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Taps for Barrels, Kegs, Sac.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appeitains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in taps for kegs or barrels and similar receptacles, my object being to provide a device of this character in which the valve forming a part of the tap is automatically closed except when actuated by a wrench or other opening device. The device for opening the valve when used in connection with lregs or barrels containing liquid as beer, is usually a combined wrench and delivery tube adapted to be inserted in the body of the tap and when so inserted acts on the valve to open the same allowing the liquid to pass through the said delivery tube or faucet whence it may be conducted by way of a conduit to any suitable location where it may be drawn into glasses for use.

struction'as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying` drawing in which is illusi trated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure l is a sectional view taken through the tap showing the same inserted in the barrel, the latter being broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the delivery tube in position ready to open the valve, the latter, however, still being closed. Fig. 8 is a view of the same with the delivery tube in section but turned to open the valve, that is to say occupying a position at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the delivery tube. Fig. 5 is an exterior end view of the tap. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the bushin member containing the valve seat. Fig. 7 is an inner end view of the tap. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the bushing member 8.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral G designate the body oi casing of the lap, the said casing being extci'iorly threaded. This casing is also interiorly threaded to receive a bushing which as shown iii the drawing is composed of two parts 7 and S. The pai-t 7 is screwed into the casing to engagement with the casing member 9 which limits the inward movement of the said bushing member; while the bushing member 8 is screwed into the casing to engagement with the outer extremity of the bushing 7 thus forming a lock nut whereby the member 7 is held securely in place and preventing its leaving the member 9 and 0bviatiiig the possibility of leakage around the screw thread. 'lhe outer extremity of the bushing 8 is provided with an exterior [lange l0 which engages the outer end of the casing and overlaps the part of the barrel to which the tap is applied, the said flange being preferably provided with recesses 10A as shown iii Fig. 5 to receive a wrench whereby the bushing member S may be readily inserted and i'en'ioved. The bushing member 7 is provided at its outer extremity with recesses l2 adapted to receive a. spaiiner wrench which may be inserted for the purpose of removing the said bushing member. The inner extremity of the bushing member Having briefly outlined my improved conf 7 is provided with a seat- 13 adapted to receive a valve 14 normally held in engagement with its seat by a coil spring 15 one extremity of which engages the inner extremity of the casing, while the other extremity of the spring engages the valve. rlhis valve is provided with a stem 17 adapted to enter a short sleeve 18 formed on the casing member 9 and surrounded by the spring l5. This sleeve is so arranged in connection with the stem of the valve, as to permit the unseating of the latter when the delivery tube is inserted. The valve stem 17 is adapted to pass through an opening formed in the inner extremity of the casing member 9, and push open a gate or valve l adapted to close an inlet orifice 39. This gate is hinged to the casing member 9 as shown at 3 and normally held in the closed position by a spring` Q. The object of this device is to close the opening 39 during the preparation of the keg oi' barrel for the reies ception of its liquid contents, whereby the pitch or other material used is prevented from entering the casing and interfering with the operation of any of the parts of the mechanism.

rihe bushing member S is provided with lugs 2O adapted to enter interior spirallyarranged cam grooves 19 formed in the wrench member 2l of the delivery tube 22. As the delivery tube is inserted for the purpose of opening the valve, the lugs 20 enter the grooves 19, and then by a partial rotation of the tube within the bushing S, the lugs engage the spiral grooves 19 and cause the tube to move inwardly suiiiciently to cause a pin 24 connected with the inner ex-V tremity of the delivery tube and protruding` therefrom, to engage the valve la and unseat the same, the said pin passing through an opening 25 formed in the bushing 7. The outer extremity of the bushing member T is recessed to receive the inner extremity of the wrench member 2l of the delivery tube, said inner extremity of the tube being seated against a shoulder Q6. This inner extremity of the delivery tube is surrounded by a gasket 27 to prevent the possible escape of liquid between the delivery tube and the bushing. rlhe pin Q4 is o-f sufficient length to unseat the valve 14 or move it to the position shown in Fig. 3, when the delivery tube has been inserted to its limit of movement. The exterior portion 2S of the delivery tube is provided with a handle 29 to facilitate the turning of the tube whereby the wrench extremity of the latter is made to perform' the valve-opening function.

The inner portion or wrench extremity of the delivery pipe is provided with an apertured web, to the central part of which the pin 24 is attached, rihe openings in this web are designated Qlif. rlhe casing 6 of the tap is provided at its outer extremity with recesses 6A adapted to receive a spanner wrench for the purpose of inserting or removing the casing from the barrel or keg not shown.

In my improved construction if for any reason the valve needs repair or a new valve is required, it is only necessary to remove the bushing members 7 and 8, to permit access to the valve. This removable bushing feature is very important in a device of this class. The casing member 9 may also be removed and inserted through the body of the casing when for any reason it is desirable to do so, and for this purpose its inner extremity may be recessed to receive a wrench which may be inserted for the purpose, after 'he bushing members 7 and 8 have been removed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

i. In a tap for kegs or barrels, the combination with a casing having its inner extremity provided with an opening, a gate hinged to the said extremity and normally closing the opening, a two part bushing threaded in said casing and engaging its inner extremity, and a valve-head located in the bushing which engages the inner extremity and having a stein protruding through said extremity intoV engagement with the said gate, for the purpose set forth.

in a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having an opening at its inner extremity, the inner ex tremity of the casing being composed of a separate member threaded into the casing body for the purpose set forth, a gate normally spring-held in position to close said opening, a valve located in the casing, suitable connection between the valve and the gate whereby as the valve is opened by an inward thrust, the gate is simultaneously opened, a bushing located within the casing and provided with a seat for said valve, and a delivery tube adapted to be inserted in the casing for valve opening purposes.

3. in a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a removable bushing located therein and provided at its inner extremity with a valve seat, a valve located in the inner part of the casing and normally spring-held against said valve seat, the valve being adapted to open by an inward movement, 'the inner extremity of the casing being composed of a separate member threaded into the casing body and adapted to be threaded therethrough when the bushing is removed.

in testimony whereof I athx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE E. MENTZER.

llfitnesses DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN, 

